我要安樂死

我希望跟大家分享一個全身癱瘓的病患對安樂死的看法的自傳。

斌仔在1991年畢業典禮彩排時，後空翻失手，導致全身癱瘓，只有頭頸以上可以活動。於2004年去信香港特區政府要求獲得安樂死的權利，引起社會對安樂死的討論。這本書是斌仔的自傳講述意外的經過、童年往事及他對安樂死的看法。


斌仔的理據是希望︰「有尊嚴地結束生命。」

支持安樂死並不代表我們不尊重生命，我們應以當時人的個人意願為依歸，如果安樂死可以為一個人帶來尊嚴及減低不必要的痛苦，那我們以甚麼理據剝削當時人的選擇及權利呢？

Euthanasia in Holland

Holland is among one of the few countries that allows euthanasia.
According to the "Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act", punishment is not followed after Euthanasia only if below requirements are met:

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Chapter II. Requirements of Due Care

Article 2

1. The requirements of due care, referred to in Article 293 second paragraph Penal Code mean that the physician:

• a. holds the conviction that the request by the patient was voluntary and well-considered,
• b. holds the conviction that the patient's suffering was lasting and unbearable,
• c. has informed the patient about the situation he was in and about his prospects,
• d. and the patient hold the conviction that there was no other reasonable solution for the situation he was in,
• e. e. has consulted at least one other, independent physician who has seen the patient and has given his written opinion on the requirements of due care, referred to in parts a - d, and
• f. has terminated a life or assisted in a suicide with due care.

2. If the patient aged sixteen years or older is no longer capable of expressing his will, but prior to reaching this condition was deemed to have a reasonable understanding of his interests and has made a written statement containing a request for termination of life, the physician may cant' out this request. The requirements of due care, referred to in the first paragraph, apply mutatis mutandis.

3. If the minor patient has attained an age between sixteen and eighteen years and may be deemed to have a reasonable understanding of his interests, the physician may cant' out the patient's request for termination of life or assisted suicide, after the parent or the parents exercising parental authority and/or his guardian have been involved in the decision process.

4. If the minor patient is aged between twelve and sixteen years and may be deemed to have a reasonable understanding of his interests, the physician may cant' out the patient's request, provided always that the parent or the parents exercising parental authority and/or his guardian agree with the termination of life or the assisted suicide. The second paragraph applies mutatis mutandis.

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The above requirements is basically describing a situation of voluntary euthanasia.
It appears that people generally found that voluntary euthanasia more defensible than involuntary euthanasia.
So does it imply that voluntary euthanasia is ethically more acceptable, or in other word, "less wrong" than involuntary euthanasia?
Does patient's consent make the act of termination of one's life different?


Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act:
http://www.eutanasia.ws/documentos/Leyes/Internacional/Holanda%20Ley%202002.pdf

A recent movie about Euthanasia

最近看了一齣電影談及「安樂死」這一議題(雖然並非電影討論的主線)，在這和大家分享一下我的看法。

電影《The Descendants》中的主角Matt King本和家人在夏威夷過著悠閒輕鬆的生活，可是，一場快艇意外令妻子Elizabeth腦部嚴重受損，更一直昏迷不醒。主角在電影開端時已得知太太甦醒的機會甚微，由於Elizabeth身前已簽下了一份授權書(內容大致是同意假若日後自己遇上意外昏迷，未能決定是否繼續以儀器維持生命時，可以自行選擇終止生命的權利)，因此Elizabeth的主治醫生建議Matt同意他為Elizabeth拔喉，亦即結束她的生命。由於這是Elizabeth的意願，Matt縱然感到傷痛，但對醫生這個決定也無奈接受，Elizabeth的家人亦然。

在觀影的過程中，我反覆思考，倘若這故事是發生在本地，那情節的發展會產生怎樣的變化？由於安樂死在香港仍未合法化，或許Elizabeth會一直依靠機器維持她那一點意義也沒有的生命，為著等待一個永遠也不會出現的奇蹟吧？這對Elizabeth，或是她的家人而言，都是漫長的煎熬。電影中反覆出現這句對白：「Let go」，選擇安樂死，某程度上是一種放下 — 放下對塵世的牽絆，放下無意義的執著。